Apparatus for assembling dispensing valve assemblies with containers



Jan. 31, 1967 t G. D. JONES 3,300,846

Filed March 8, 1965 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING DISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLIESWITH CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor GERALD D. JONES Jan. 31, 1967G. D. JONES 3,300,846

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING DISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITH CONTAINERSFiled March 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 6E RALD D. J'DN Es By} S Ma -MAlformq 1967 G. D JONES 3,300,846

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING DISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITH CONTAINERSFiled March 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

Inventor Jan. 31, 1967 G. D. JONES 3,300,846

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING DISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITH CONTAINERSFiled March 8, 1965 5 Sheets5heet Av Inventor GERALD D. JONES I Byy qAttorney Jan. 31, 1967 ASSEMBLIES WITH CONTAINERS Filed March 8, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 5 ll llllll Inventor RALD D, JONES M A A ttorneys UnitedStates Patent This invention relates to apparatus for assemblingdispensing valve assemblies with containers and in particular toapparatus for assembling dispensing valve assemblies each of whichincludes a closure member adapted for connection with the mouth-definingportion of a container and which carries a valve mechanism fitted with adip tube. Such valveassemblies and containers are commonly used for thedispensing of aerosols.

Heretofore there has been difiiculty in assembling the valve assemblieswith the containers and machines for securing the valve assemblies tothe containers have been unable to maintain the desired rates ofproduction without the employment of a large number of operatorsmanually to fit the valve assemblies to the containers. It is a mainobject of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assemblingthe valve assemblies with the containers at an economical rate therebyconsiderably to reduce the number of manual operators required.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for assemblingwith containers dispensing valve assemblies each of which includes aclosure member adapted for connecting with the mouth-defining portion ofa container and carries a valve mechanism fitted with a dip tube,comprising container conveyor means arranged to move containers mouthsuppermost in succession and in predetermined spaced relation, dispensingvalve assembly conveyor means disposed above the path of the containersand arranged to move dispensing valve assemblies in succession in timedrelation with the movement of the containers and with the dip tubesdirected downwards towards the containers, said dispensing assemblyconveyor means moving the dispensing valve assemblies in the directionof movement of the containers and converging towards the path of thecontainers to effect the insertion of the dip tubes into the containers,an endless conveyor supported to be divergent from the plane of thedispensing valve assembly conveyor means and convergent towards theplane of said container conveyor means in the direction of movementthereof, and dip tube engaging elements carried by the endless conveyorand arranged first to engage a dip tube at a position in the vicinitythereof at which it is attached to the valve mechanism and thereafter toslide relative to the dip tube towards the free end thereof thereby toguide the free ends of the dip tubes into the containers.

The container conveyor means may comprise an endless belt movable in thedirection of movement of the containers and by which the containers aresupported with the mouths thereof uppermost, and a rotatable scrolledroller extending lengthwise of the belt and operable to engagecontainers supported by the belt and to retain them in said determinedspaced relation thereof.

The dispensing valve assembly conveyor means may comprise stationarymembers operable to support the closure members for movement lengthwiseof said members and a rotatable scrolled roller extending lengthwise ofsaid members and operable to engage closure members supported by thestationary members and to effect said movement of the dispensing valveassemblies towards the containers.

Each dip tube engaging element may comprise a plate ice secured to theendless conveyor and have a slot in which the dip tube is located whilebeing guided by the plate.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood one embodimentthereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates, partly in section, a dispensing valve assembly to beassembled with a container,

FIG. 2 illustrates, partly in section, a container with which the valveassembly of FIGURE 1 is to be assembled,

F'IG. 3 is a side elevation of apparatus for assembling the valveassembly of FIGURE 1 with thecontainer of FIGURE 2,

FIG. 4 is an end elevation, partly in section, of FIG- URE 3,

FIG. 5 is a plan of a part of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3,

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view illustrating the mode of operation of theapparatus,

FIG. 7 illustrates the underside of a dispensing valve assembly conveyorand dip tube guide means embodied in this apparatus,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation illustrating the mode of operation of theapparatus, and

FIG. 9 is a top plan of FIGURE 8.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, a dispensing valve assembly comprises aclosure member 1 which includes an annular hook portion 2, housingsealing compound 3, by which the valve assembly is connected with themouthdefining portion 4, FIGURE 2, of a container 5. The closure member1 carries a valve mechanism 6 fitted with a dip tube 7. The dip tube 7is curved at the free end thereof so that the free end is displacedrelative to the axis of the valve mechanism 6 and closure member 1.

Referring to FIGURES 3 to 9, containers 5 are moved mouths uppermost insuccession by container conveyor means which comprise an endless belt 8by which the containers are supported in an upright position, horizontalguides 9 which engage opposite sides of the conveyors near the upperends thereof, and a rotatable scrolled roller 10 which extendslengthwise of the belt 8, which is rotatable about a horizontal axis,and which is operable, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, to retain thecontainers in predetermined spaced relation for the reception ofdispensing valve assemblies to be assembled therewith.

Dispensing valve assembly conveyor means are disposed above the path ofthe containers on the belt 8 and are arranged to move dispensing valveassemblies in succession in timed relation with the movement of thecontainers by belt- 8 and roller 10 and with the dip tubes 7 directeddownwards towards the containers, see FIGURES 6 and 8. The dispensingvalve assembly conveyor means comprises oppositely disposed stationarymembers 11, 12 between which the closure member 1 is supported for freemovement lengthwise of the members 11, 12 by a second rotatable scrolledroller 13 which retains the dispensing valve assemblies in spacedrelation and aligned one with each of the containers on the belt 8, theedges of the closure members 1 protruding from the edge of the guidemember 12 for engagement by the scroll of the roller 13.

As can be seen from FIGURE 6, the stationary members are arranged tosupport the closure members 1 from opposite sides of the dip tubes 7 andconsist of a fiat bar 12 arranged to guide only the undersides of theclosure members and -a U-shaped channel member 11 arranged to guide boththe undersides and the upper sides of the closure members.

The dispensing valve assemblies are delivered gravitationally to theguide members 11, 12 by a chute 14, FIG- URE 9, which receives thedispensing valve assemblies from unscrambling and orienting devices notshown. The

guide members 11, 12 and the roller 13 move the valve assemblies in thedirection of movement of the containers by the belt 8 and convergetowards the path of the containers to permit the insertion of the diptubes 7 into the containers as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 9.

Guide means are engageable with the dip tubes 7 dur ing movement of thedispensing valve assemblies by the dispensing valve assembly conveyormeans 11, 12, 13 and are arranged to guide the free ends of the diptubes into the containers. These guide means are provided primarilybecause of the curved shape of the free ends of the dip tubes and toensure that the free ends of the dip tubes enter the mouths of thecontainers and do not foul the tops of the containers. The guide means,as illustrated in the drawings, comprise an endless chain conveyor 15which is supported by a frame 16 to be divergent from the plane of thedispensing valve assembly conveyor and convergent towards the plane ofthe container conveyor, see FIGURES 3 and 6. The chain conveyor carriesdip tube engaging elements arranged first to engage a dip tube at aposition in the vicinity thereof at which it attaches to the valvemechanism and thereafter to slide relative to the dip tube towards thefree end thereof, see FIGURES 6 and 8. The dip tube engaging elementseach consist of a plate 17 secured to the chain conveyor 15 and providedwith a slot 18 in which the dip tube is located while being guided bythe plate, see FIG- URE 6.

The apparatus is driven by an electric motor 19, FIG- URE 4, through agear box 23 which drives a sprocket wheel 21 connected by a chain 22with a sprocket wheel 23 rotatable with a shaft 24, FIGURE 3. Shaft 24also carries a sprocket Wheel 25 which, by a chain 26, drives a sprocketwheel 27 on a shaft 28. Shaft 28 carries a further sprocket wheel 29which, through chain 30, drives a sprocket wheel 31 on a shaft 32 bywhich the belt 8 is driven.

The shaft 24 also carries a gear wheel 33, FIGURE 4. which meshes with agear wheel 34 carried by a shaft 35. A sprocket wheel 36 on shaft 35,through a chain 37, drives a sprocket wheel 38, which, in turn, drives auniversal coupling 39, FIGURE 5, connected to the scrolled roller 16 toeffect rotation thereof. Also carried by shaft 24 is a further sprocketwheel 40 which, through chain 41, drives a sprocket wheel 42 connectedwith scrolled roller 13 to effect rotation thereof. A sprocket wheel 43,FIGURE 4, on shaft 35, through a chain 44, drives the endless chainconveyor 15.

When the apparatus is in operation containers are moved in succession bythe belt 8 and roller while dispensing valve assemblies are fed by theroller 13 and are aligned one with each container. As a valve assemblyis located above a container the upper end of the dip tube is engaged inthe slot 18 of a plate 17 and as the valve assembly is lowered towardsthe container the plate 17 moves towards the free end of the dip tubeand centres the free end of the tube relative to the mouth of thecontainer for insertion into the container, see FIGURES 6 and 8. Whenthe free end of the dip tube has been introduced into the container theplate 17 is disengaged from the dip tube and the movement of the valveassembly towards the container is continued until the valve assemblyleaves the guides 11, 12 and drops on to the container. The containerhaving the valve asembly assembled therewith is then moved to aclinching device, not shown, by which the hook portion 2 of the closuremember 1 is clinched to the mouth-defining portion 4 of the container.

The apparatus described above is that which is preferred for carryingthe invention into effect but it will be understood that if desiredother components than those specifically described can be employed forcarrying out the functions as described herein.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for assembling with containers dispensing valve assemblieseach of which includes a closure 4 member adapted for connection withthe mout-defining portion of a container and carries a valve mechanismfitted with a dip tube, comprising container conveyer means arranged tomove containers mouths uppermost in succession and in predeterminedspaced relation, dis pensing valve assembly conveyor means disposedabove the path of the containers and arranged to move dispensing valveassemblies in succession in timed relation with the movement of thecontainers and with the dip tubes directed downwards towards thecontainers, said dispensing assembly conveyor means moving thedispensing valve assemblies in the direction of movement of thecontainers and converging towards the path of the containers to effectthe insertion of the dip tubes into the containers, an endless conveyorsupported to be divergent from the plane of said dispensing valveassembly conveyor means and convergent towards the plane of thecontainer conveyor means in the direction of movement thereof, and diptube engaging elements carried by the endless conveyor and arrangedfirst to engage a dip tube at a position in the vicinity thereof atwhich it is attached to the valve mechanism and thereafter to sliderelative to the dip tube towards the free end thereof thereby to guidethe free ends of the dip tubes into the containers.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each dip tube engagingelement comprises a plate secured to the endless conveyor and having aslot in which the dip tube is located while being guided by the plate.

3. Apparatus for assembling Wlt'h containers dispensing valve assemblieseach of which includes a closure member adapted for connection with themouth-defining portion of a container and carries a valve mechanismfitted with a dip tube, comprising an endless belt conveyor by which thecontainers are supported with the mouths thereof uppermost, a rotatablescrolled roller extending lengthwise of the belt conveyor and operableto engage containers supported by the belt and to retain them inpre-determined spaced relation, dispensing valve assembly conveyor meansdisposed above the path of the containers and arranged to movedispensing valve assemblies in succession in timed relation with themovement of the containers and with the dip tubes directed downwardstowards the containers, said dispensing assembly conveyor means movingthe dispensing valve assemblies in the direction of movement of thecontainers and converging towards the path of the containers to effectthe insertion of the dip tubes into the containers, an endless conveyorsupported to be divergent from the plane of said dispensing valveassembly conveyor means and convergent towards the plane of thecontainer conveyor means in the direction of movement thereof, and diptube engaging elements carried by the endless conveyor and arrangedfirst to engage a dip tube at a position in the vicinity thereof atwhich it is attached to the valve mechanism and thereafter to sliderelative to the dip tube towards the free end thereof thereby to guidethe free ends of the dip tubes into the containers.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each dip tube engagingelement comprises a plate secured to the endless conveyor and having aslot in which the dip tube is located While being guided by the plate.

5. Apparatus for assembling with containers dispensing valve assemblieseach of which includes a closure member adapted for connection with themouthdefining portion of a container and carries a valve mechanismfitted with a dip tube, comprising container conveyor means arranged tomove containers mouths uppermost in succession and in pre-determinedspaced relation, stationary members arranged to support the closuremembers from opposite sides of the dip tubes and consisting of a flatbar arranged to guide only the undersides of the closure members and aU-shaped channel member arranged to guide both the undersides and theupper sides of the closure members, a scrolled roller extendinglengthwise of said fiat bar and U-shaped channel member and operable toengage closure members supported by the bar and U-shaped channel memberand to effect movement of the dispensing valve assemblies towardscontainers sup-ported by said conveyor means with the dip tubes directeddownwards towards the containers, said bar and U-shaped channel memberand scrolled roller converging towards the path of the containers toeffect the insertion of the dip tubes into the containers, and guidemeans engageable with the dip tubes during movement of the dispensingvalve assemblies by the dispensing valve assembly conveyor means andarranged to guide the free ends of the dip tubes into the containers.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the guide means comprises anendless conveyor which is supported to be divergent from the plane ofthe dispensing valve assembly conveyor means and convergent towards theplane of the container conveyor means in the direction of movementsthereof, and dip tube engaging elements carried b ythe endless conveyorand arranged first to engage a dip tube at a position in the vicinitythereof at which it is attached to the valve mechanism and thereafter toslide relative to the dip tube towards the free end thereof.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each dip tube engagingelement comprises a plate secured to the endless conveyor and having aslot in which the dip tube is located While being guided by the plate.

8. Apparatus for assembling with containers dispensing valve assemblieseach of which includes a closure member adapted for connection with themouth-defining portion of a container and carries a valve mechanismfitted with a dip tube, comprising an endless belt conveyor by which thecontainers are supported with the mouths thereof uppermost, a firstrotatable scrolled roller extending lengthwise of the belt conveyor andoperable to engage containers supported by the belt and to retain themin pre-determined spaced relation, stationary members operable tosupport the closure members for movement lengthwise of said stationarymembers, a second scrolled roller extending lengthwise of saidstationary members and operable to engage closure members supported bythe stationary members and to effect movement of the dispensing valveassemblies towards containers supported by the belt conveyor with thedip tubes directed downwards towards the containers, said stationarymembers and second scrolled roller converging towards the path of thecontainers to effect the insertion of the dip tubes into the containers,an endless conveyor supported to be divergent from the plane of saiddispensing valve assembly conveyor means and convergent towards theplane of the container conveyor means in the direction of movementthereof, and dip tube engaging elements carried by the endless conveyorand arranged first to engage a dip tube at a position in the vicinitythereof at which it is attached to the valve mechanism and thereafter toslide relative to the dip tube towards the free end thereof, duringmovement of the dispensing valve assemblies by the second scrolledroller to guide the free ends of the dip tubes into the containers.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each dip tube engagingelement comprises a plate secured to the endless conveyor and having aslot in which the dip tube is located while being guided by the plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,962,846 12/1960Marindin 29-211 X 3,054,170 9/1962 Benichosa et al. 29-208 3,118,2181/1964 Gleason et al 29-208 3,212,174 10/1965 Wonneman 29-208 3,212,17510/1965 Wonneman 29-208 JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING WITH CONTAINERS DISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLIESEACH OF WHICH INCLUDES A CLOSURE MEMBER ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH THEMOUTH-DEFINING PORTION OF A CONTAINER AND CARRIES A VALVE MECHANISMFITTED WITH A DIP TUBE, COMPRISING CONTAINER CONVEYER MEANS ARRANGED TOMOVE CONTAINERS MOUTHS UPPERMOST IN SUCCESSION AND IN PREDETERMINEDSPACED RELATION, DISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLY CONVEYOR MEANS DISPOSED ABOVETHE PATH OF THE CONTAINERS AND ARRANGED TO MOVE DISPENSING VALVEASSEMBLIES IN SUCCESSION IN TIMED RELATION WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THECONTAINERS AND WITH THE DIP TUBES DIRECTED DOWNWARDS TOWARDS THECONTAINERS, SAID DISPENSING ASSEMBLY CONVEYOR MEANS MOVING THEDISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLIES IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THECONTAINERS AND CONVERGING TOWARDS THE PATH OF THE CONTAINERS TO EFFECTTHE INSERTION OF THE DIP TUBES INTO THE CONTAINERS, AN ENDLESS CONVEYORSUPPORTED TO BE DIVERGENT FROM THE PLANE OF SAID DISPENSING VALVEASSEMBLY CONVEYOR MEANS AND CONVERGENT TOWARDS THE PLANE OF THECONTAINER CONVEYOR MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT THEREOF, AND DIPTUBE ENGAGING ELEMENTS CARRIED BY THE ENDLESS CONVEYOR AND ARRANGEDFIRST TO ENGAGE A DIP TUBE AT A POSITION IN THE VICINITY THEREOF ATWHICH IT IS ATTACHED TO THE VALVE MECHANISM AND THEREAFTER TO SLIDERELATIVE TO THE DIP TUBE TOWARDS THE FREE END THEREOF THEREBY TO GUIDETHE FREE ENDS OF THE DIP TUBES INTO THE CONTAINERS.